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22^ND ANNUAL ALBANY SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION: Lester Sherman
Sherman ran to greatness

• Lester Sherman is remembered as one of the best running backs to play at Albany State, now he’ll be inducted into the Albany Sports Hall of Fame.

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — When former Monroe High School star Lester Sherman stepped foot onto Albany State’s campus from 1971-74, then-Rams coach Hamp Smith had not seen a running back like him.

More than 30 years later, the now-retired Smith won’t change his mind.

“I haven’t coached anybody better than Lester Sherman,” Smith said of the late star who will be inducted into the Albany Sports Hall of Fame on Monday night at the Albany Civic Center. “Lester could run the football like nobody else and he could catch it and tackle. If someone intercepted the football, he’d make that tackle. I think Lester is as deserving as anybody else to be in the Hall of Fame.”

Albany Sports Hall of Fame president B.B. Rhodes could not agree more.

“(Smith) has coached at Albany State for years, and for him to say that Lester Sherman is the best running back he has ever coached, that’s something,” Rhodes said. “He’s certainly deserving of this honor.”

Sherman, who died in August, was a star with the Tornadoes in 1968-69 and earned All-South honors before becoming the first SIAC running back to surpass 1,000 yards (1,036) in a season in 1972.

At Monroe, while playing for Winfred Benson,his accolades included scoring 40 points by himself against Lowndes, and then 50 against Ware County. What made the win against the Gators that much more intriguing was that the Tornadoes trailed 20-0 and then romped to a 70-20 victory.

“Speed and agility was Lester’s greatest asset,” Benson stated in a letter to the Hall of Fame. “The media took every opportunity to spotlight his aggressiveness on the field. Lester was a crowd drawer and pleaser for every game. Lester was admired by his teammates, which showed in great team chemistry. He worked very hard, was a leader, had a very positive attitude and outstanding character. He was also greatly admired by students and the community.”

At Albany State, Sherman’s determination on the field made him a team favorite, doing everything it took to get that extra yard. While playing for the Rams, Sherman – at 5-8 1⁄2 and 181 pounds, rushed 732 times for 3,008 yards and 27 touchdowns in his career. Sherman, a three-time All-SIAC selection, also caught 37 passes for four scores, and averaged an astounding 30 yards per kick return.”

Once Sherman finished his career at Albany State, he was a 17th-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, as well as being a pick by the World Football League’s Jacksonville Express that same year, according to Smith.

Sherman’s intangibles extended beyond his gift on the gridiron.

“He’s never criticized another player or said anything off the wall,” Smith said. “He was a genuine good fellow. He had the potential to be an outstanding athlete in any sport, but football was his love.”

For Sherman’s family, however, they will celebrate his accomplishment as well as wish he was still with them to witness the event.

“The way I feel about it is that it’s long overdue,” his oldest sister, Joanne Moore, said. “Football was everything to him. It will be hard to describe how we’ll feel without him being there. It’ll bring tears to our eyes.”

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